Nike Vomero Plus vs Vomero Premium: Which Max Cushion Shoe Should You Buy?

Introduction

Nike’s refreshed Vomero lineup now includes three shoes, with the Vomero 18 sitting underneath two premium max cushion options: the Vomero Plus and the Vomero Premium. Both are designed around comfort first, but they take very different approaches to what a max cushion shoe should feel like.

After running roughly 130k in the Vomero Plus and 100k in the Vomero Premium across easy runs, long runs, recovery days, and some faster training, the differences are clear. The Vomero Plus is the more practical, versatile pick for most runners. The Vomero Premium is a more extreme, more expensive shoe that delivers perhaps the softest and most protective ride available, and it sits best in a rotation rather than as a one-shoe answer.

Two Takes on Max Cushioning

The Vomero Plus is a max cushion shoe in its own right, standing 45 mm at the heel and 35 mm at the forefoot with a 10 mm drop. It weighs 300 g (10.6 oz) in a UK 9 / US 10 and costs £155 or $180. Its midsole is a full slab of ZoomX foam, Nike’s lightweight and bouncy material, paired with a full-coverage waffle tread outsole that exposes only tiny ridges of foam on either side of the central section.

The Vomero Premium pushes the concept much further: 55.5 mm at the heel and 45.5 mm at the forefoot, still with a 10 mm drop. It weighs a substantial 355 g (12.5 oz) in the same size and costs £210 or $230, making it the most expensive shoe in the lineup. Its midsole combines ZoomX foam with two Air Zoom units, one under the forefoot and one under the heel, which are firmer and offer slightly higher energy return than the foam alone. This helps counteract the size and weight of the shoe. The outsole is again full-coverage waffle tread, with a couple of cutouts showing off the Air Zoom pods.

Upper, Comfort, and Build Quality

Both shoes use mesh uppers built firmly around comfort. The Vomero Plus has thick material with generous padding around the tongue and collar, plus a significant internal heel counter for structure at the rear. The Vomero Premium’s upper is arguably even thicker, with a touch more padding, and its heel counter is larger and slightly stiffer, adding more support at the back of the shoe.

Fit and On-Foot Comfort

Fit has been very good in both shoes in your normal running shoe size. In this case, a UK 9 (US 10 for Nike) delivered good toe room and solid hold around the heel and midfoot. The heavy padding is the main trade-off: in hotter conditions, and especially around the tongue, these uppers can feel slightly oppressive if you notice your feet getting warm in shoes. Front-of-shoe breathability is not their strong point, though in cooler conditions this is unlikely to matter much.

Performance: Where Each Shoe Shines

Both shoes are designed primarily for easy runs, long runs, and recovery runs on the days after workouts. Both are surprisingly comfortable without becoming sluggish, keeping a lively, bouncy character despite their size.

The Vomero Premium takes comfort to another level. It is softer and squishier at the back, bouncier than the Plus, and delivers an unrivalled level of protection. On tired-leg days, high-mileage weeks, or the day after a double workout, the extra foam and the bounce back from the Air Zoom pods really pay off. You are not just sinking into foam and having to work your way out of it. It is also more stable than its height suggests, thanks to a wider base that gives more support on either side of the foot, though its sheer size can catch you out on uneven pavement if you land at the wrong angle.

The Vomero Plus, by contrast, is lighter, a bit more agile, and does not sink in quite as far. It moves more easily at faster paces, and when you push into it, you get a nice spring back from the foam. It works well as an all-round daily trainer and handles easy-to-steady progression runs noticeably better than the Premium. Its ride is slightly snappier and less rockered: it does not roll heel to toe as smoothly, but it turns over quickly and gives good response off the toes. Neither shoe is great for all-out speed, but if you want one shoe for everything, including racing, the Plus is the better candidate.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

For most runners, especially anyone looking for a single shoe to do everything, the Vomero Plus is the more sensible pick. It is more versatile, more agile, smaller, and noticeably cheaper, and it works for runners of all levels, from beginners to experienced athletes. It is also a strong option within a rotation.

The Vomero Premium is much more of an easy-day-only shoe. It does not perform as well as the Plus at speed work and sits most naturally in a rotation alongside lighter, faster shoes for speed sessions and racing. For that role, it is excellent: the bounce never fades even over long runs, and it is arguably the most comfortable max cushion shoe available for recovery days. If you run in a multi-shoe rotation and can justify a luxury easy-day trainer, it is a fantastic choice, and there is really nothing else quite like it out there.

Conclusion

The Vomero Plus is the practical, versatile max cushion daily trainer that will make sense for most runners. The Vomero Premium is the more outlandish luxury: heavier, more expensive, and limited to relaxed paces, but exceptionally soft, stable, and comfortable on easy days. Pick the Plus for a one-shoe solution; pick the Premium if you want the ultimate recovery-run shoe for a rotation.